No Prisoners, No MercyHost: Julie Whitefeather & Frances KosacThere comes a time, friends, when your favorite MMO ceases to sparkle, when even new videogames lose their luster, and the computer room becomes a prison; and all that is left are two gamers (who happen to be nuns) with a very large axe to grind. Come join Julie Whitefeather and Frances Kosac as they go to War - and along the way discuss the events of the week in the MMO industry.

What would we talk about on December 7th, 2010 but Cataclysm? Well perhaps (and more importantly) Pearl Harbor Day, had we planned for it ahead of time.But before Blizzard even discussed having goblins as a character option our own Julie said she would come back to the game if they were playable – which means Rob Pardo listens to our show. That’s our story and we’re sticking to it.After the show stay tuned for news of the comings and goings in Everquest II,

'Extended notes' by JulieSubmitted on 2010-12-07 19:21:01 CSTThe extended notes for this show including the list of resources discussed by Saylah can be found here:

http://noprisonersnomercy.com/2010/12/the-cataclysm-show/
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'WoW' by TokenSubmitted on 2010-12-10 02:39:46 CSTThanks for another good episode. There is definitely some truth to what Saylah was saying about me getting bored with WoW, the part about the failure of other games making it worse was interesting. Let me put forward where I am comming from and first I will say that my WoW subscription was inactive for about 5 months before reactivating on Cataclysm launch day.

I think it was episode 42 of virginworlds (it was on an old mp3 player I just happened to listen to it a few weeks ago while on a train, I havent memorised every show) that Brent took a letter from a guy asking why he was casually bashing WoW on his shows. Brent pointed to EQ2 as an example of a game that did a great job of growing the gameplay with tons of new content after launch, whereas the only growing WoW really did was in the number of subscribers. Even though this perspective was taken from pre-bc, I still find it painfully relevant. Maybe its not just that i've played it too much, maybe it really IS stale, maybe they DO need to make more of an effort to innovate. My guess is that they have decided to play it relatively safe and save the major innovations for their next mmo.

I think the problem is partly with the engine, partly with a lack of creativity or ambition. Did you know that Cataclysm pretty much marked the 1 year anniversary of Icecrown Citadel going into the game? That was the last major content patch seriously, and before that one we got the Trial of the Crusader which was pretty much the most unpopular place ever. How much money are they making again? And you want to say i'm spoiled?

'Spoiled gamer' by JulieSubmitted on 2010-12-10 12:09:22 CST@ Token: If there is a smell from spoiled gamer out there I believe it is coming from the community as a whole (unless you stepped in something or haven't bathed in a couple of years and I doubt that is the case).

I think Saylah has the issue sussed - if there is a problem it is more about the failure of other games. As I have said on earlier shows I will have now agree with Dr. Bartle (to whom I have apologized on the air and one on one) that if I could get rid of any game it would be World of Warcraft, no matter how much I enjoy it. (http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/gamesblog/2007/jul/17/idcloseworld) If nothing else it would be for the simple purpose of encouraging young innovated game development to grow in an environment that doesn't demand a profit margin that rivals the gnp of Switzerland with executives who's avowed intent is to "take the fun out of making games."

Thanks for listening and for the comment.

Julie

'Thanks once again' by SaylahSubmitted on 2010-12-11 15:59:28 CSTI had a blast as always. I cringed when I heard our doot-dooting to The Girl from Ipanema. I thought that would hit the cutting room floor. OMG it was hilarious when it happened but mortifying on audio. LOL

Late in thanking you because I've been on the road and only at home for a weekend pit stop. You're always so much fun to chat with about games. Take care and have a blessed holiday season!

'P.S.' by SaylahSubmitted on 2010-12-11 16:02:07 CSTPS. My audio sucked again. I guess I have to replace the Plantonics Headset I used to have for recordings.

'Another good show.' by ChecksixSubmitted on 2010-12-12 16:06:10 CSTA side note: I haven't played WOW since about 2005ish. I thought about trying it out for the new expansion but sadly I've lost all my user names and passwords for the accounts I had (i had 3 for different people in my household). After trying, unsuccessfully, to get Bilzzard to send my old login info, I took a look at what it would cost to get back in.

Did you guys know it's $100 to get back into WoW from scratch? That's just re-dam-diculous! EQII does it better, buy the latest expansion for full price (about $60); get everything that came before it.

Oh well, I'm sure Turbine likes it in this case because I'll just stick with my current game. My hobbit burg would get lonley if I went on a WoW vacation anyway ;)

'@ Saylah NO Mam.' by ChecksixSubmitted on 2010-12-13 04:06:19 CSTNope. They have a bundled special for $99.99. I heard about the special you mention but I guess it's expired. When I went to Battlenet today that was it.

'Well that sucks...' by SaylahSubmitted on 2010-12-13 13:06:14 CSTCuz I stand corrected, it was $5, $5, $10 when I resubb'd a couple of weeks back and went in to do a digital pre-order for Cata. Strange of them to raise it.

Guess they're not hurting for subs I logged in for a minute yesterday, first time since Cata actually released and I couldn't even move there were so many players in Orgimmar.

'Generic Post Title' by JulieSubmitted on 2010-12-13 22:34:10 CSTAs much as I enjoy World of Warcraft the high price of entry into the mmo is symptomatic of the 800 pound gorilla attitude. This is the same corporate entity where Bobby Kotick said of he would raise prices even further if he could when their customer base was already complaining about the high price - yet Call of Duty: Modern Warfare sold like there was no tommorow.

What it amounts to in the end is the only way to make a point is for the customer to take a stand. If the gaming public refused to buy Fallout: New Vegas until the game was actually complete then Obsidian and Bethesda both would have not had such a sever case of cranial/rectum inversion.